Disclaimer: Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer Productions, I don't own anything, just my original characters.
I was born before 1600 in the Highlands of Scotland, and I am still alive. I am Immortal and I am not alone. For four hundred years, I have fought, loved, wondered, explored and avenged. Now, I have found the woman of my dreams, but we are always in danger. For centuries, I have battled the Dark Immortals, with Holy Ground my only refuge. Soon will be the time of the Gathering, when the stroke of a sword and the fall of a head, will release the power of the Quickening. I am Owen MacLeod, the Highlander. In the end, there can be only one.
(Cue Princes of the Universe)
Starring
Jack Turpin
Kehli O'Byrne
Adrian Paul
Alexandra Vandernoot
Stan Kirsch
(Princes of the Universe ends)
Saving Grace
Guest Starring
Julia Stemberger
Georges Corraface
Werner Stocker as Darius
It was a moonlit at the Paris laboratory. Dr. Paul Warren was becoming disillusioned with his younger wife, Grace Chandel.
"Why didn't you just tell me you're seeing someone else?" he asked
"Because I'm not," she insisted. "Paul, I love you."
"But you want him. It IS Jacque, isn't it?"
"Our lab assistant? He's only twenty years old."
"So was I when we met," Paulreminded, who was in his sixties.
"This isn't about jealousy at all, is it, Paul?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's about you and me. You grow old and I don't... I'm sorry, but that's the way it is."
"Forty years seems forever when you're twenty. It's a lot easier to take then. That's something you'll never understand."
"I understand envy when I see it."
"Go to hell!"
Grace began to walk away.
"Don't turn your back on me!"
He tried to grab her arm, but she shook him off and accidentally knocked over some petri dishes on the shelf.
"What's wrong with you?" she demanded.
"I can't stand looking in the mirror, knowing that one day... s-some..." he paused before becoming firm. "I'm leaving you before you leave me."
"What?"
"We're over."
"Paul... you can't!"
"Watch me."
Grace stormed over to the coatrack, taking off her lab coat and grabbing her scarf.
"I'm going home now. We CAN get through this."
She left the office and exited the building. When she left, a figure in black walked into the lab. Paul was picking up the broken petri dishes and heard the figure's presence Thinking it was Grace, he let out a big sigh.
"I'm sorry," he apologized and turned, only to be shot by the unfamiliar figure.
The assailant then poured gasoline all over him as he died and tossed a lit match on the floor, engulfing Paul's corpse.
At the rectory of St. Joseph's Chapel, Duncan and Owen were visiting Darius, along with Lynn. Darius was giving hera little history lesson by using a war two were sitting at his table, where a diorama depicted Pickett's charge at the Battle of Gettysburg.
"It's baffling what will drive literally anyone to their deaths," Owen noted. "Believe me, I've seen it all."
"I believe you," affirmed Lynn.
"You know, neither Pickett nor Longstreet wanted to take that hill, but Lee had fifteen thousand men. He thought he was unbeatable," said Duncan.
Darius studied diorama, "Hm. Pride doth goes before the fall. And victory to those who hold the high ground."
He then placed a figure on the battlefield, while Lynn watched with interest.
"Careful, you're going to knock that over," Owen motioned to a small tree.
"Oh, that's already bent."
"You know, I could be wrong," said Lynn, "But you still think like a warrior despite being a priest."
"Now, Napoleon on the other hand - where's that book on Napoleon you had?" Duncan asked as he turned to the bookshelf.
"Napoleon? That's over there," replied Darius, pointing to the other side of room, before continuing Lynn's lesson. "Well, war in the abstract is a great intellectual puzzle, but in reality, it's all blood and tears."
"Then why is it made into a game?" Lynn asked.
"To deny what I was is to deny what I am."
"I'm not sure what to say about that."
Then, Darius raised his head, sensing the buzz of an approaching Immortal. Duncan and Owen felt it too.
"An Immortal?" asked Lynn.
Owen, who was on the other side of the room with Duncan, placed his finger to his lips as a form of hush. Then, Grace entered room, shaking and petrified.
"Darius...?" she asked.
"Grace!" the priest exclaimed as he got up to see her.
"Ma'am, what is it?" asked Lynn.
Grace was silent when she looked at Lynn. Darius held up a reassuring hand.
"It's ok, she knows," he explained.
Feeling her voice again, the distraught Grace revealed, "I've been walking the streets all night long. I didn't know where else to go."
"What is it? Paul?"
"He's dead."
"What?"
"Who's Paul?" Owen suddenly asked.
Grace turned around in a fright and saw Owen and Duncan.
"Owen? Duncan?" she asked, smiling through her tears. "I'm glad you're here."
The father and son gave Grace the warmest hug they could give.
Outside St. Joseph's Chapel, Grace was telling the quartet about the night before.
"...by the time I got back to him, it was too late," she finished.
"So, was it an accident?" asked Darius.
"I think I heard a gunshot before the fire."
"Any ideas who did it?"
"No."
"Perhaps it's someone wanting your research..."
"Paul and I had just moved in. There wasn't anything to steal but the equipment, which is completely destroyed."
"What about Carlo Sendaro?" asked Owen.
"I haven't seen him in years."
"Well, we can't be too careful."
"And if he did kill Paul, why hasn't he come for me?"
"I don't suppose you've spoken to the police," cut in Darius.
"Too many questions I might not have answers for."
"Oh, I have to... I have to prepare for afternoon mass. Grace, my rectory is a little bit Spartan, not to mention public. But if you like, I'll call the Mother Superior at the convent and arrange for you to stay there. If it's Sendaro, you'll be safe on Holy Ground."
"I feel better just talking to you..." she turned to the MacLeods, "...and to you."
Darius turned and walked back to the chapel, while Grace walked with Duncan, Owen and Lynn.
"Darius told me you were back in town," she told the MacLeods. "And that you were living on a barge... with your mortal lovers."
"And you just met mine," put in Owen. "Her name's Lynn."
"Hi."
Lynn accepted a handshake, "Owen told me a lot about you."
"And Duncan?"
"Her name's Tessa, and you should have dropped by," replied Duncan.
"Paul and I were having our problems. A handsome Immortal friend wouldn't have helped."
She sat down on a bench with Lynn next to her.
"What should I do? If it is Sendaro, he won't just go away. After I left him, he kept trailing me."
Duncan attempted comfort, "You changed your identity-"
"Three times."
"THREE?!" exclaimed Lynn.
"SHHHH!" Owen scolded, not wanting attention drawn.
"Sorry, it's just horrifying."
"I know," agreed Grace. "He can't conceive that I've stopped loving him. You were right about him."
"Feeling guilty isn't going to help," Owen replied. "Acting will."
"I think you should stay with us for a while, until we can find out whether it's Sendaro or not," suggested Duncan.
"You think it would be all right with..."
"Tessa... yeah."
Lynn helped Grace up and the four made their way to the barge.
Back on the barge at the quay, Tessa had just gotten back as Duncan, Owen and Lynn were tidying up.
"Duncan, I'm home!" she called as she walked over and pulled him to the couch. "All day I've been thinking about that New Year's Eve we spent in Normandy. You know, maybe this weekend, you and I could go somewhere and have lots of fun and spend-"
"No," he replied as he extricated himself from her arms.
"What's the matter?"
"Duncan?" called Grace. "Duncan, where do you keep the towels?"
Duncan sighed, "Under the sink in the bathroom."
"Found them! Thanks!"
"You were saying?" asked Tessa.
"We have unexpected company," Lynn explained.
"Unexpected to be sure, but a welcome one," added Owen.
"Bonjour, est quelqu'un à là?" called Richie from outside the barge.
"What the fuck?"
"You want some coffee?" Duncan asked Tessa abruptly.
Then Richie entered, still speaking in French.
"Ah, mes amis! Bonsoir! Ça va? Oui? Bien? Bon, alors qu'est-ce que fais ce soir? Je vous invitere a diner, oui?"
None of the four said anything, so he reverted back to English.
"Okay, so my accent sucks, but I'm working on it, he explained when he heard the shower turn on. "Do we have company?"
"Grace Chandel," said Duncan, turning to Tessa. "An old friend of ours."
"How old?" asked Tessa.
Owen thought back to the French countryside of 1660.
Duncan and Owen were riding through a forest and were attacked by two bandits. The first one got Duncan's sword away, but Duncan beat him up. While Duncan fought the first one, the second one appeared with a large tree branch. However, Owen recovered and stabbed the second one while throwing his blade at the first one.
"Well done," commended Duncan. "The training has paid off."
"Thank you, Father," Owen said happily.
The two remounted and continued down the road. Suddenly they heard the scream of a girl, as well as feeling a buzz.
"The hell?" Owen asked out loud.
The duo followed the sounds toward a villa. Carefully following the sounds, they stopped at a hay wagon, dismounted, tied up their horses, and walked toward the villa on foot, leaving the horse to enjoy some of the hay. Drawing their rapier swords, they stood at the entrance of the building. Duncan went through the door first.
"I'm Duncan Mac-" was all he could say before he saw a young girl in labor on a small bed.
Owen peeked in next and saw the scene too. The midwife helping the girl, was actually Grace, who had felt their presences as well.
"If it's my head you want, I'd appreciate it if you'd wait a few minutes," she requested before turning to the pregnant girl. "C'mon, girl..."
Owen quickly shut the door and put his sword away, before approaching the scene with curiosity in his eyes. Grace walked from the girl's side to her front to see if the baby was emerging.
(John Newton's Amazing Grace plays)
"That's it. Okay, fine. Yeah. Give it one more push! Yes," she encouraged the girl before turning to Owen. "Get me water."
As if his body was moving on his own, Owen rushed to the left of the room and found a water bowl. He quickly brought it over, his heart pounding against his chest.
"Yes, one more! That's it, that's it! Come on, one more time! It's coming... one more, keep going, keep going. I see its head... it's coming, it's coming."
The girl pushed with her last ounce of strength, and the baby fully cut the umbilical cord and sealed up the holes to prevent bleeding. Carefully, she smacked the newborn's bottom, causing it to start crying, letting everyone know it was healthy. A small smile appeared on Duncan's face as Grace wrapped the baby in a blanket. Duncan walked outside to get some air, but Owen stayed his eyes glued to the sight.
He watched as Grace handed the newborn to its new mother. Then, he noticed something tickling his cheek. He reached to touch the spot but only felt moisture. It was coming from his eye, which felt strange. That was when he realized, he was crying. He had never cried in his life, not once. But thejoy of childbirth was so beautiful to the young man, that he had been driven to tears. He turned and quickly went outside to dry them.
Owen walked leaned on a wall, taking deep breaths and struggling to dry his tears. Just then, Grace came up to him.
"Do you wonder what it would be like, too... to hold your own child in your arms?" she asked.
Owen wiped his eyes and sniffed, "I his child. Well, if you call me that."
"We are what we are," chimed in Duncan.
"Yes, I know," Grace added kindly. "Obviously, I can't outfight you, and I'm too tired to run, so we might as well get on with it."
"Get on with what?"
"Just leave the mother and child..."
Duncan laughed, "We wish you no harm."
"We fight to defend, and... there no one to defend," added Owen, looking around.
"You don't want my head?" Grace asked.
"Hm, well..." Duncan paused as he pretended to think about it, stroking Grace's chin. "No... only to admire."
Grace smiled warmly and went back inside. Owen hugged Duncan, who held him in his arms.
(John Newton's Amazing Grace ends)
"Is she still a doctor?" asked Tessa.
"Well, she's been doing research, mainly," Duncan asked. "She figured she could help people more that way. Right now, she's been trying to develop an anti-viral vaccine."
"And she's been your friend for all these centuries?"
"Mm-hm."
"They had a brief affair, but that was it," chimed in Owen.
"Owen!"
"But now it's over with!"
Lynn tried her hardest to not laugh at the exchange.
"Centuries. Wow," Richie said. "The expiration date on my relationships is usually a few, uh-"
"Weeks," chirped Owen.
"Weeks? Thank you - months."
"Ahem," said Grace, who had come out of the bathroom in a robe and a towel covering her hair.
Duncan, a little awkward, guided Grace to the others.
"Oh, um... Grace, I want you to meet Tessa..."
"Hi," Grace greeted, shaking Tessa's hand.
"Hi," Tessa greeted back.
"And, uh, Richie."
Grace shook Richie's hand as well, "I'm sorry I'm not dressed..."
"Hey, that's okay," replied Richie. "I, uh, I think you look fantastic."
"Come on, I'll find something for you."
Tessa guided Grace to the back to get her some clothes.
Outside on the deck, Owen was helping Duncan touch up a paint job on side of barge, when Grace walked out.
"Hi," Owen greeted, getting Duncan's attention.
"Hi," Grace responded as she walked over to them. "Tessa and Lynn are beautiful. They may not be one of us, but they have old souls. You're lucky men."
"Yeah," agreed Duncan.
"They're lucky, too. Sometimes I wish I was mortal. It would simplify things, wouldn't it, to know there's a limit to life. So that time is precious. To be able to share things, like grey hair, parenthood..."
"No one can choose who they are, not you, not me, not Owen, not Paul,"
"I know. I remember – 'We are what we are.' Paul hated growing old without me. I could see it in his eyes for years before he exploded. He hated me for it. And now he's gone, and I hurt again... God, I get so tired of it sometimes. We go on and everything around us dies. You both've always been good friends. Don't hunt for Sendaro. I don't want to lose either of you, too."
"Sorry, Gracie," replied Owen. "It's my destiny to protect the world and the ones I love from evil. And with the time of the Gathering upon us, it's only a matter of time until one remains, and I must make sure it's not an evil one.
Grace sighed in defeat as both MacLeods hugged her tight. Tessathen approached, carrying a tray.
"I've made some coffee..." she said.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't..." Grace responded before quickly moving away.
"Tessa..." said Duncan.
"Do you still love her?"
"No."
"That's all that needs to be said. She's your friend and she's been hurt. You'll help her. I'd expect you to do no less."
"Thanks."
"I think she would feel more comfortable with some of her own things."
"Yeah, well, I'll stop by her apartment. I love you, Tess."
"I know."
Owen put the equipment together and accepted one of the coffee mugs.
"Have you any idea who did it?" asked Tessa.
"Nah, it wasn't a random break-in... nothing was stolen," Duncan answered.
"Then why?"
"There's a perverted Immortal called Carlo Sendaro," Owen interrupted. "They were a couple for a century, then they fell apart, and he refused to handle it."
"You think he would kill for her?"
"Definitely."
Later, Owen and Duncan arrived outside Grace's apartment building, where the police were at. Then Owen turned to the left and saw a familiar face exiting the building, who saw him and Duncan.
"Look who's back," he said to Duncan.
"Now look who's here," said LeBrun, sarcastically. "You two wouldn't happen to know someone named Grace Chandel?"
"Yes, we would," Duncan replied. "Why's that?"
"Where is she?"
"Is there a problem, Inspector?"
"Well, her boyfriend was murdered with a nine-millimeter automatic and... ...guess what we found in her apartment?"
He pulled out an evidence bag containing a gun.
"Are you trying to say that Grace shot him?"
"I don't know. That's what I'll find out."
"She wouldn't do that, she hates violence," Owen cut it.
"Now, how did I know she was a friend of yours? The neighbors said they argued a lot. One hell of a coincidence, wouldn't you say? And we had an anonymous caller. He swore that she was Paul Warren's murderer."
"Maybe your anonymous caller had a reason to lie."
"Oh, maybe, but if ballistics matches the bullet in Paul Warren's chest to this... ...your friend Grace Chandel is going to be charged with murder.
He turned to go, then turned back, "And, uh... there's such a thing as an accessory, garçon, you know?"
"Do you have evidence?"
LeBrun's response was to walk away.
"They think I killed Paul?" asked Grace in disbelief.
"They found a gun in your apartment," Duncan replied.
"This is crazy. I loved Paul. I would have never..."
"Look, LeBrun is no fool; now he knows we're friends," Duncan said, before turning to Tessa. "She can't stay here."
"Where can she go?" asked Tessa.
"I have to leave the country," Grace replied.
"Well, you'll need a new identity to start over," said Duncan."It's not going to be easy - everything's computerized these days. Not like the old days when you could just pick up and walk over the hills and be somebody else."
"MacLeod!" called a voice from outside.
"Oh shit," whispered Lynn.
Richie looked out window, "We got company, Mac."
"LeBrun?" asked Duncan.
"That's right, boss."
Owen turned to the girls, "Get the speedboat and take her to Darius. We'll be right there."
Tessa and Lynn took Grace to the speedboat, while Duncan took off his jacket and handed it to Richie before hurrying to the door.
"MacLeod, you in there?"
"MacLeod!" called LeBrun, standing on the dock beside the barge.
Duncan came out onto the deck to greet him.
"Inspector. Twice in one day? I'm honored," he said sarcastically.
"Where is Grace Chandel?" LeBrun demanded as he walked up the gangplank, blocked by Duncan.
"Oh, yeah... well, if I see her, I'll tell her you stopped by."
"Are you going to let me inside?"
"Do you have a warrant?"
"If you had nothing to hide, you wouldn't be asking."
"Well, I guess that's perfect cop logic. Welcome aboard."
He stepped aside and followed LeBrun across the deck.
"Nah, it's this way," he added, leading LeBrun away from the control area and to the cabin door.
LeBrun entered and Duncan paused to watch the speedboat motoring away into the distance. Tessa sat at the controls while Lynn sat at the side with Grace.
Tessa soon parked the speedboat at a pear and the trio of girls walked onto the Paris Street. Grace had a scarf wrapped around her head to keep her identity hidden. The three walked carefully toward Darius' chapel to safety. As they walked along the route next to the park, Lynn noticed Grace looking uneasy.
"What is it?" asked Tessa when she saw Grace pause.
"An Immortal. Quick," Grace urged, and she hurried forward with the others following in suite.
Lynn patted her coat pocket and nodded. She was ready just in case.
Inside the barge, Richie was sitting in chair, tossing playing cards at a glass vase on the table, and missing repeatedly, while LeBrun walked around barge interior. Owen sat, waiting for LeBrun to leave.
"Kitchen and the bathroom are down there, if you want," offered Duncan.
"She was here, wasn't she, MacLeod?" LeBrun asked.
"Well, she's a friend of mine. She comes here from time to time."
Grace, Lynn and Tessa continued to hurry toward St. Joseph's, looking around anxiously for the Immortal following them.
"Hang on," soothed Lynn, "We're almost there."
She held Grace's hand as they walked together. For a moment though, Lynn swore she saw a dark shadow in the distance.
"It would be easier for everyone concerned if you'd tell her to come in and talk to me," said LeBrun.
"Oh, if I see her, I'll let you know," Duncan replied.
Grace, Lynn and Tessa jogged across a street.
"Nearly there," Lynn checked.
Grace began to get anxious and pulled the others by the hands, in hopes of reaching Holy Ground first.
"MacLeod..." said LeBrun as he made his way to the exit.
"Yeah?"
"Just don't get in over your head."
"Never do."
"Heh, that's debatable!" Owen sassed.
"Have a very nice day, Inspector!" called Richie as LeBrun left.
The boy smirked and tossed another card at the vase, another fail. Duncan gave him a look of exasperation. Richie tossed another card, and it actually landed in the vase.
"Ah!"
St. Joseph's Chapel was dead ahead. Tessa, Lynn and Grace crossed the street. Grace looked behind herself one last time, as did Lynn. Then Lynn heard Tessa gasp, causing both girls to turn as a man in black cut them off. Lynn instantly knew who it was.
"Carlo..." said Grace, dryly, "You ARE here."
"For you," confirmed the perverted stalker.
He looked at Tessa and Lynn, the latter had her hand in her coat pocket.
"Why are you running? Beautiful women should never be afraid of me."
Lynn felt her skin crawl, finding the newcomer to be a creep rather than a stinker. He looked back to Grace.
"'She doth teach the torches to burn bright...'" he quoted before turning to Tessa and Lynn again. "Carlo Sendaro, at your service."
He gave a small bow then sensed a buzz and turns to look behind him at St. Joseph's. Darius was standing in the doorway. Sendaro turned back to the women.
"You were on your way to see Darius or just trying to get to Holy Ground?" he asked Grace.
"Both," she replied.
"Shall we?"
Lynn was not sure about it, but Grace would be safe on Holy Ground. Sendaro followed Grace up to chapel entrance and paused next to Darius.
"Ooh, it's been so long since my last confession..."
He turned and continued to follow Grace into the chapel. Tessa started to go past Darius also, but he grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"No, I think it best we let them speak alone for a while," he suggested.
Tessa watched them enter the chapel, put her hands in her coat pockets, sighed and walked a few steps away. Lynn stood, waiting in case something happened.
"Grace, you are my life," said Sendaro as they stood in the rectory. "You always have been."
"Is that why you make my life hell?" Grace shot back.
"You loved me once. I could make you love me again..."
"No, you couldn't!"
Sendaro scoffed, "Oh, yes, I could."
"You killed Paul."
"Why would I do that?"
"You bastard! You did kill him!" screamed Grace as she ran at him trying to hit him.
"Calm down! Calm down," Sendaro demanded, grabbing her. "Who put those lies in your head?"
Suddenly, they sensed another buzz. They turned to the doorway and saw both MacLeods entering.
"I see."
Owen walked menacingly forward as he remembered his first meeting with Sendaro in a Paris hotel courtyard in 1840.
"Monsieur," greeted a woman.
Duncan tips his top hat as she walked past. Owen did the same and they continued walking. Just then, the MacLeods sensed a buzz and Sendaro standing next to a carriage. Owen advanced toward him as Sendaro began to draw his machete sword.
"Carlo, don't!" Grace said as she ran up.
"We haven't come to fight you," Owen told Sendaro.
"Duncan? Owen?" asked an astonished Grace. "What brings you here?
"We heard you were leaving," replied Duncan.
"Who are you?" Sendaro asked sharply.
"Carlo Sendaro, these are Duncan and Owen MacLeod. Old friends," explained Grace.
"Where are you going?" asked Duncan.
"We're going to the Amazon jungle."
"Oh, the Amazon?"
"This is a wonderful opportunity for my research. I've heard the Indians there have some extraordinary medicines. I'll be staying at Carlo's plantation."
"So, you have other properties, then?" Owen asked Sendaro.
"Oh, yes," boasted Sendaro. "Actually, this is a rubber plantation."
"As big as Paris," Grace said lovingly.
"No, it's much bigger."
Grace laughed, "Come on."
"I'm not exaggerating, it's much bigger."
"Could I have a word with you, please? Do you mind?" interrupted Owen.
Sendaro gestured with his arm and Owen took Grace aside.
"How well do you know Sendaro?" he asked.
"I know he won't take my head, if that's what you're afraid of."
"That's the least of my worries. The Amazon's a long way away."
"So?"
Owen spoke quietly, "Father has heard things about Sendaro. Once he thinks something's his, he never gives it up."
"Thank you, but I can take care of myself."
"Hmm."
"I didn't think you were the jealous type."
"Dad's the one you had time with, not me."
"Ahem," Sendaro interrupted, "I'm afraid we have quite a long way to go. And our ship sails at dawn."
Duncan kissed Grace's hand.
"Be careful," he advised.
Grace nodded and gave Owen a kiss on the cheek. She joined Sendaro, who helped her into carriage. Sendaro then turned to the MacLeods.
"She's mine now and always will be."
"Or not..." replied Owen.
"If I see you again..."
"If you don't take care of Grace, you will."
Sendaro walked back to the carriage, "Don't worry, she's in good hands."
"I hope so, for your sake."
Duncan allowed Sendaro to enter the carriage, before holding Grace's hand.
"May the winds be with you," he said.
"Goodbye, Duncan. Goodbye, Owen," Grace answered.
Sendaro tapped the roof and the carriage was off.
Sendaro started to draw his machete.
"Holy Ground, Sendaro," reminded Owen.
"Have you forgotten where you are?" Grace supported.
"Yes," replied Sendaro as he put his weapon away. "I'm not here to deal with your past mistakes, just our future."
"We have no future."
"Grace, you belong with me."
"Don't you mean TO you?" retorted Duncan.
"You both stay out of this if either of you want to go on living."
"Some things are easier said than done."
"You arrogant bastard," Grace cursed. "You killed the man I love, and you expect me to come with you?"
"Well, what future do you have here with the police searching for you?" asked Sendaro.
"You're the one who placed the gun in her apartment," Owen shot back.
"I said, stay out of this."
"Screw you."
"I love you, Grace. I love you," said Sendaro as he placed his heads on her shoulders. "I have an empire in the Amazon. You could continue your research. In twenty, thirty years, you could come back with new-"
"You're crazy!" she snapped. "Get out of here. Once and for all, get out of my life."
"Besides Sendaro," added Owen, "With the Gathering closer than ever, how long do you expect it to last?"
"You'd be surprised," Sendaro replied as he turned to Grace. "I love you."
Duncan stepped in front of Grace as Sendaro reached for her again and pushed his hand away.
"This does not end here," Sendaro warned as he put his gloves back on.
"You're so right," retorted Duncan.
"There can be only one," reminded Owen.
Sendaro left immediately and Owen helped Grace to a chair.
(John Newton's Amazing Grace plays)
While walking through the Paris Park, Duncan, Owen and Grace watched a woman sitting on a park bench with a baby. Owen smiled happily at the sight. She placed the baby in a stroller and pushed it past them.
"Bonjour," greeted Duncan.
"Bonjour," the woman greeted back.
The trio watched her push the stroller down the path.
"You know, I wonder whatever happened to that baby," Owen spoke up.
"Which baby?" asked.
"You know, from when we met."
"Funny. I think about her too, sometimes. Maybe she had children of her own, grandchildren, GREAT grandchildren. That child could be one of her offspring. And here we are... still."
She sat down at the same bench, with the MacLeods joining you.
"Actually, I was thinking about another time. There was a little inn not too far from this spot."
(John Newton's Amazing Grace ends)
"Yeah, I remember it," said Duncan.
"Probably a fast-food restaurant now. Things change. Even we do. It's time that keeps shifting things under our feet."
"That's not what happened."
"No. The truth is, you and I were too different."
Owen nodded in agreement.
"Maybe if I'd stayed-" Duncan began.
"You would have been unhappy," finished Grace, laying her head on his shoulder. "So, I let you go. My wandering knight, charging off to right all the wrongs of the world."
"Both of us are," said Owen.
"Not so much, now..." Duncan cut in.
"I still am."
"Are you happy?"
"Yes. Yes, I am," admitted Duncan.
"As am I," added Owen.
"That's good. So... what now?"
"Well, now... we've got to find you a new identity."
"I want a nice name this time."
"That depends on what we can find what we can find," chuckled Owen as the trio walked down the path.
Elsewhere at a cemetery, Richie walked among the headstones, reading the inscriptions. He crouched in front of the "FAMILLE CAHOREAU" stone for a moment, then continued on. He then walked toward the "ISABELLE PONTAND" stone, crouched down and read the inscription.
"'Isabelle Pontand'... born April 12, 1964; died April 20, 1964. Eight days on planet Earth," he read before pulling out a small notebook and pen. "You missed a helluva party."
(Can I please point out this is heartbreaking as I can imagine her parents broken by her unfair passing?)
Back at the barge, Duncan was trimming a photo, creating documents for Grace's new identity and Owen was sharpening his sword, when Richie returned.
"What's up, boss?" he greeted.
"Is LeBrun's man still out there?" asked Duncan.
"Oh, absolutely. And doing a very unsuccessful job at trying not to be obvious. Here you go," Richie replied as he handed Duncan a roll of papers. "The two forms you asked for."
"That's good," said Owen. "Lynn and Tessa'll keep Grace away from the barge long enough for us to get the documents to her."
"You know, I keep telling you, guys, if we were in the States, I could have fixed you up with something absolutely, completely, 100%, totally hassle-free."
"Yeah, and all you would have had to do is talk to your friends in the local prison," retorted Duncan.
"Hey, give me a break, Mac. I am talking about one stop shopping."
Duncan smiled and shook his head. This is what it was like having two boys.
"So how are we supposed to meet up with Tess, Lynn and Grace?" asked Richie.
"They'll call us, don't worry," Owen replied. "Besides, Tess and Grace are in good hands. Lynn's slippery, thanks to me. Heh, heh."
At another cemetery, Grace was placing flowers on Paul's grave, before stepping back to join Tessa and Lynn.
"You'd think I'd learn how to handle this, wouldn't you?" she asked the mortals. "And the strange thing is every time it happens, I tell myself I won't go through it again. I swear to myself I won't fall in love with a mortal... as if love were something you had any control over. You both and those two have something good. I envy you both."
"Really?" asked Lynn. "We should be envying you; you've known them longer than either of us combined."
Grace smiled; she understood what Lynn was trying to say.
"Grace, about you and Mac..." Tessa inquired.
"We had a moment, that was all... though I wanted it to be more. Please, don't hold it against me."
"It's funny, but I don't. It would take me several lifetimes to find out everything in Duncan's past. I know there've been others, but I never thought I would meet one of them. And here you are."
"Same here," added Lynn. "I wish all Immortals were like you. Using their Immortality to better help us mortals."
The three smiled lovingly at each other. But Lynn had one more question.
"What happened between you and Sendaro?"
"We went on a great adventure," Grace said as they walked among the graves. "But over the years, he changed - he went from being an explorer to being a conqueror. He started terrorizing and dominating the people I was treating. He demanded whole villages to worship him like a god."
Lynn shook her head, remembering the first commandment.
"So, you ran," added Tessa.
"I've been running ever since. Every few decades, he finds me."
Suddenly Grace stopped. Lynn realized what was happening as she turned and saw Sendaro nearby.
Sendaro gestured to the graves around him, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
"If you don't take out that sword and use it, it's going to rust," Lynn finished.
"Well said," replied Sendaro as he picked up a white flower from another grave. "What are you doing here with Tessa?"
"That's a question I should be asking you," Tessa retorted. "What do you want?"
Sendaro turned to Grace, "May I talk to you? Tell them to leave."
"Like hell," replied Lynn, pulling a gun out of her pocket. "You can't harm us here, but I know how to kill you, permanently."
"It's all right... I'm safe," Grace soothed, not looking away from Sendaro. "Just give us a moment."
"We'll be waiting by the gate," said Tessa, leading Lynn away.
"Your chaperones?" asked Sendaro.
"Lynn and Tessa are my friends," answered Grace.
"You always did have a weakness for mortals."
"If you mean I prefer friends to slaves, you're right."
"No, I just mean mortals."
Grace started to walk away.
"Grace... stay. Face it, Grace - our love is immortal."
He handed her the flower.
Tessa drove up, parked the car, and rushed over to the barge with Lynn, where Owen was standing and smoking a cigarette.
"He's got her!" she cried.
"How?!" Owen demanded.
"He must have been waiting for her at the cemetery, knowing she would come," added Lynn.
"Do you know where they went?"
Tessa shook her head, "I think she went with him to protect us."
"Lynn, why didn't you shoot him?"
"Grace insisted she was safe."
"Fuck. We'll find them."
"Want us to go with you?"
"No. Dad, get our coats! I'll get our swords!"
Owen hurried inside the barge.
At the same hotel courtyard, Owen saw that where Sendaro's carriage stood all those years ago, a car was now parked in its place. Owen stepped forth with Duncan following again.
"I knew I could count on your memory, MacLeod," Sendaro said.
"Where is she?" demanded Owen.
"She's picking up the passport you were so instrumental in obtaining. You should have been a bureaucrat, not an Immortal."
"And you should have known that life is full of disappointments."
"No one takes what is mine."
"She's not yours, and she never was."
"You still love her, don't you?"
"She's like my mother!"
"Pff. I knew it from the first time I saw you."
"You know, you were blind then, and you still are."
"And you're dead!"
Sendaro shoved Owen back and drew his machete. He swung twice, but Owen dodged easily and deflected the next strikes with his katana. Seeing his opponent's aggressive moves, Owen calmly deflected his strikes while working in his own counters. Sendaro dodged a beheading strike and kicked Owen back. Owen retaliated with a roundhouse kick and knocked the stalker back again.
"Stop!" screamed Grace,running up.
They ignored her and kept fighting, neither gaining an upper hand.
"NO MORE KILLING!"
Sendaro swung with an angry growl, but Owen dodged the beheading, AGAIN.
Owen paused to goad, "Come on!"
"Do it! MacLeod, do it now! Come on," encouraged Sendaro, hitting Owen's blade with his own, egging him on. "Come on."
"There's plenty of time," Owen reminded.
"Do it."
"Get behind me," Duncan reached out to Grace, as Owen stood in defense.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance," Sendaro warned.
Owen put his sword away as Duncan took Grace's hand.
"Grace... there's no way you can escape me!"
"Back off if you want to keep your head," warned Owen.
It would be his last warning as he walked with Duncan and Grace away from Sendaro.
"You alright?" Duncan asked her.
Grace nodded a yes. Sendaro put his machete away as he stormed back into the hotel.
At a café, Grace sat at a table with both couples around her.
"I keep looking over my shoulder for the police," she said.
"It's not the police you should be afraid of," replied Tessa.
"I should never have returned to Paris."
"But you did," Duncan pointed out.
"I'll be more careful this time."
"Where will you go?" asked Lynn.
"It's a big world.I can go wherever I want. Oh, God, sometimes I get so tired of this charade. One day I'm Grace, next I'm Helen..." she paused as she opened the passport with her photo and the name 'Isabelle Pontand,' "Okay, who am I today?"
"At least you have the choice," Tessa soothed. "Most people don't."
"I can change my name - I can't choose who I am. And we have to move on. You have to move on, I have to move on. At least we'll have a little more choice than Isabelle was a baby. She was here for only a moment, and the only thing she ever had was her name, and... and now I've taken that."
"You have a right," insisted Owen. "You're alive. You and every other living thing has a basic instinct - it needs to survive."
Grace turned to the girls, "Don't you ever get tired of living with guys who know everything?"
"I thought you would know him better than that," teased Tessa.
"Besides, I like wise guys," Lynn added.
"Well, if we know everything, we know he knows your new identity," said Duncan.
"I have to take that chance," Grace insisted.
"We'll get you out of the country," offered Owen.
"Owen, Duncan, you can't protect me forever. I'm a big girl. I can get on the plane alone."
"At least let us-" Duncan began.
"Please, it's easier to say goodbye here."
"Grace, you can't escape Sendaro, let alone the Gathering," reminded Owen. "It's only a matter of time till one of them catches up to you."
Inside his rectory, Darius was organizing his books, when he sensed a buzz and saw Grace enter.
"Grace!" he said, happy to see her. "Grace."
"I had to say goodbye," she replied.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know."
"Is there nothing I can do to help?"
She shook her head, "Pray to Saint Christopher for me."
He chuckled, "Patron saint of travelers. So... drop me a postcard sometime, hm? I'm starting a collection."
Grace kissed him on the cheek and exited the chapel. But as she exited the chapel grounds and began to walk away, two detectives approached her.
"Miss Chandel... you're under the arrest for the murder of Paul Warren," said the male one.
"No..." said a frightened Grace.
"Come with us."
The detective reached for her, but a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind and made him turn. He fully turned around just in time to see Sendaro's fist make contact with his face. The female detective pulled out her gun, but Sendaro grabbed it lifted it upwards, causing her to expend a bullet in the air. Then he backhanded her, throwing her back. He saw Grace starting to run only for LeBrun to intercept her.
"Not so fast, Miss Chandel," he said proudly. "You're not going anywhere."
He pulled out a pair of handcuffs, put one loop around her wrist and the other around his own.
"This is the police. You're under arrest for the murder of Paul Warren."
Then he saw Sendaro advancing toward them, very angry.
"Stay right there, sir."
Sendaro ignored him and reached for the machete on his belt. LeBrun responded by pulling out his revolver.
"Freeze, or I'll shoot," he warned as Sendaro walked toward him. "Stay where you are! I'm warning you!"
Sendaro began to draw his blade, forcing LeBrun to shoot him in the chest. He fell back against the metal fence and then to the ground, temporarily dead. LeBrun hauled Grace over to his car and reached inside for his radio.
"LeBrun here. Give me an ambulance in front of St. Joseph's Chapel, over," he reported before turning to Grace. "Who was he?"
"An old boyfriend of mine," answered Grace. "He's the one who killed Paul Warren."
"You're fast, you know that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Pinning the murder on a dead man."
Sendaro suddenly rushed at LeBrun, crushing him between the car and its door. Then he headbutted the detective and elbowed him in the face, knocking him unconscious. Drawing his machete, Sendaro severed Grace's handcuff links.
Back at the barge, Owen was on the cordless phone.
"Got it, thank you," he said as he hung up violently. "Fuck, FUCK!"
"What is it?" asked Lynn.
"It was Grandpa Darius. Sendaro just did a number on LeBrun and two of his detectives."
"And Grace?" Tessa asked.
"On her way out of the country with him, probably," answered Duncan, putting on his jacket and tossing Owen his.
"What can we do?"
"Just one thing."
The MacLeods left quickly and rushed for the car.
"Sendaro's mine," vowed Owen as Duncan stepped on the gas.
At the hotel courtyard, Duncan screeched to a stop and Owen hurried over to Grace, who was sitting in Sendaro's car.
"Get out of the car!" he ordered, grabbing the keys from ignition.
"He'll only keep following me and more people will die!" said Grace as Owen pulled her out.
"It ends tonight!"
Owen threw the keys away from car, then turned around just in time to block Sendaro's arms as he shoved his blade at him. Sendaro slugged Owen to the ground and raised his machete to finish him.
"No!" Grace screamed, grabbing Sendaro's right arm.
Both paused when they heard the approaching of police sirens. Sendaro kicked Owen in the face and grabbed Grace, pulling her away.
"No!" she cried as he dragged her away.
Owen shook his head as he recovered and gave chase. Sendaro dragged Grace up a narrow street as Owen chased after them. Duncan had seen everything and started following after him. Sendaro dragged Grace through traffic and then down into metro station. The MacLeods followed them down the stairs and into the metro.
Inside the subway, Sendaro recklessly knocked over a passerby.
"Watch it!" he barked.
The MacLeods ran into the subway and chased after Sendaro through hall after hall and down the stairs into the metro station.
"Stop!" yelled Owen, causing Sendaro to look back.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Grace kicked Sendaro in his shin and managed to get away from him. She jumped off the platform and down onto the tracks, running into the metro tunnel as Sendaro got up and chased her.
"Face me, Sendaro! Come on!" shouted Owen.
Grace suddenly tripped and fell, allowing the others to catch up. Sendaro turned, throwing off his coat.
"It ends here," Owen vowed, throwing off his jacket and raising his katana.
Sendaro drew his machete and attacked, while Grace watched anxiously. Duncan hurried to her to get her away from the fight. Owen and Sendaro traded brows on the sleepers and railway lines, with Owen remaining defensive and conservative. Sendaro even ended up striking some wires, causing sparkling flashes. He kept trying to use his coat to gain an advantage, but Owen did not take the bait.
As they broke off from their duel, Sendaro noticed Owen's foot resting between two tracks and pulled a nearby switch lever, moving the inside track over and crushing Owen's foot, trapping it.
"Ah!" Owen cried before growling, "Coward."
Suddenly, a train was heard approaching down the tunnel. Owen could not get his foot free.
"Get out, now! Save Grace!" he called to Duncan. "Dad, go!"
Duncan led Grace away and Owen blocked a few of Sendaro's strikes.
"Come here, come here!" he tempted, goading Sendaro.
The rumble of the train was getting closer as Sendaro attacked again. Owen deflected two strikes, then lifted up his jacket from the ground and tossed it at him. Sendaro flung the jacket aside, but in the process, the tip of his machete lowered and touched the electrified third rail, electrocuting himself in the process. Owen watched as Sendaro was electrocuted until he fell unconscious, with his neck conveniently hanging over the train track. Owen used his katana to pry the moveable track section away from his foot, barely in time to escape the oncoming train. Sendaro revived, just in time to turn his head to the left and see the oncoming train speeding toward him, running over his neck.
Owen saw the nightmare had ended as he approached the headless corpse. Immediately, a bolt came out of the neck and struck Owen, the body enveloping in a white light. More bolts emerged as Owen took Sendaro's Quickening and bulbs around the tunnel exploded into sparks as Owen unleashed a scream, the reaction to his power being charged. At last, the fury subsided and Owen took Sendaro's machete with him as he struggled to stand.
Back at the barge, Grace was saying her final goodbyes.
"Thank you again," she told Richie, kissing him on each cheek.
"Anytime," he replied.
Grace turned to the girls, "Thank you... for everything."
"Take care of yourself, Grace," said Tessa.
"If you need anything, don't be a stranger," Lynn added.
Grace nodded and the three hugged. Grace walked out of the barge to where the MacLeods were waiting.
"Goodbye," she said, as her bags were being loaded into a taxi.
"The investigation's over," replied Owen. "You could stick around for a while."
"I couldn't. I'm beginning to understand how Sendaro felt... about loving someone he couldn't have."
"Grace. I..." began Duncan.
Grace put her hand to his mouth, "I know. Goodbye, Duncan. Goodbye, Owen."
"Goodbye, Gracie," Owen said.
"Goodbye," said Duncan as he opened the taxi door. "May the winds be with you."
The taxi drove off toward the open road, leaving the MacLeods to watch as it vanished up the hill.
(Cue Princes of the Universe)
Co-Starring
Hugues Leforestier as Inspector Raymond Lebrun
Bruce Myers as Paul Warren
Marion Cotillardas as Pregnant Girl
(Princes of the Universe ends)
That's right, Marion Cotillard, Nolan's Talia al Ghul, played the pregnant girl in the flashback. Because she never spoke, she was not credited. But here, she is. This is not the last we will see of her though.
The two detectives Sendaro beats up are not known, nor will they be credited.
I am sure you guys noticed Owen DOES want kids, considering the flashback.
I wanted Owen to take Sendaro's head due to my own dislike for possessive stalkers. Sendaro actually is a better one than a certain other Immortal.
LeBrun never appears again after this chapter, because he probably had enough of the constant MacLeod shit and got a transfer request accepted and left Paris for good.
While this is not Darius' last appearance, this IS Werner Stocker's last time on the set. But rules are rules, no dedication yet.
Anyway, thanks for reading, please review, your support helps my writing.
R&R, Roland Cain out!